I am sure many are excited to say their goodbyes to 2020 in a heartbeat. By reflecting on this year, there was a lot of bad, but there was also a lot of good.
2020 was…
A year of slowing down.
We were home a little bit more, and many, like myself, haven’t been commuting since March. I saved at least two hours of my life every day. We felt no obligations like we had to make it to because it was the “right” thing to do. Instead, for us, the right thing to do was to hunker down as much as possible, have more family time, read more books, exercise more, and be outside more.
A year of reflecting.
It was a year of appreciating what we do have in life: our family and friends, food, shelter, books, technology, and workout equipment. We saw a lot of hurt and pain along the way, but it made me appreciate more and more what I did have, rather than what I was missing out on. I was thankful to spend my days with my little girl and my husband. With Zoom and FaceTime, it was still nice to see our parents, siblings, and friends virtually.
A year of enjoying the simple things in life.
I got to appreciate sleeping in a little bit more and waking up to have breakfast with my daughter and husband regularly. I got to end the workday, make dinner, or play with my daughter without being exhausted from commuting. It was nice to regularly have family dinners without feeding my daughter first and then getting her to bed before my husband and I could sit down to eat. I felt well-rested for most of the year. We also enjoyed Westchester and Connecticut’s many beautiful outdoor spots that we had not seen before on our regular hikes. We got to explore more parks with our little one and enjoy what was in our backyard without packing or traveling stress.
A year of new beginnings.
For some, it was welcoming a new baby or trying something new. It was a different year where lots of people could not be around, so you were able to excel or try something you might not have had time for before. For me, I cooked and baked a lot more during this year than I normally would have. I may not still be an expert cook, but I made my first turkey for Thanksgiving, and it turned out pretty good for a non-turkey fan! We, as a family, created some new special traditions that I hope to continue.
A year of enjoying a little more self-care.
For me, I got to exercise almost every day, my body felt strong, and my mind felt even better. I did a number of exercise challenges with friends virtually, which were a lot of fun. I also turned to my spirituality a lot when I felt down. Maybe some of you tried meditation for the first time, yoga or hiking, or started an exercise routine. Maybe it was becoming more spiritual or reading that 500-page book you never had time for before. But it was a year where time was on our side, and we could take care of ourselves a little bit more.
